About Thomas Raddall Provincial Park
Expansive 650-hectare provincial park on the South Shore near Port Joli offering white sand beaches, coastal hiking and biking trails, 82 campsites, swimming, and easy access to Kejimkujik National Park Seaside adjunct.
Features & Highlights
Detailed Information
Tucked away on a wild peninsula at the western edge of Nova Scotia's South Shore, Thomas Raddall Provincial Park is one of the province's most rewarding coastal parks — and one of its best-kept secrets. With 82 campsites tucked into coastal forest, three white-sand beaches, a network of hiking and biking trails, and direct access to the Kejimkujik National Park Seaside adjunct, this 650-hectare park delivers a wilderness experience that feels far more remote than its convenient location would suggest.
Named for the acclaimed Nova Scotia author Thomas Head Raddall, whose historical novels captured the maritime character of the province, the park protects a striking diversity of habitats: pristine barrier beaches and dune systems, coastal barrens carpeted in lowbush blueberry and lambkill, freshwater fens and bogs, and stands of old-growth eastern hemlock that have never been logged. It is a place where you can swim in the morning, hike through coastal forest in the afternoon, and fall asleep to the sound of waves on Port Joli Harbour at night.
The Practical Details: Location, Hours and Essentials
Address and Location
529 Raddall Park Road, Port Joli, Nova Scotia B0T 1S0
The park is located on the South Shore, approximately 90 minutes from Halifax via Highway 103. Take Exit 23 (Port Joli) and follow the signs for approximately 15 minutes along Raddall Park Road. It is about 20 minutes from the town of Liverpool and 30 minutes from Lunenburg.
2026 Operating Season
May 15 to October 12, 2026
Camping Options
- 68 Unserviced Campsites: Wooded sites with parking, campfire ring/grill, and picnic table. Accessible sites available (#2 and #4).
- 13 Walk-In Campsites: Coastal Loop (150m from camper beach) and Woodland sites for a more secluded feel.
- 1 Group Campsite: Available by reservation through the Milton Natural Resources office.
Facilities
- Restroom with shower (accessible stall available)
- Vault toilets throughout the campground
- Drinking water taps throughout
- Trailer dump station
- Park office (firewood/ice available)
- Day-use parking
- Change house and beach access
- Group shelter for rainy-day activities
- Playground
Activities
- Swimming (unsupervised, saltwater on Port Joli Harbour)
- Canoeing and kayaking
- Hiking (10 trails, 0.5–1.5 km)
- Biking (multi-use trail)
- Birding (piping plovers, seabirds, forest birds)
- Beachcombing and photography
Reservations
Camping reservations are available through the Nova Scotia Camping Portal at novascotia.goingtocamp.com. The park is increasingly popular, so advance reservations are recommended, particularly for July and August weekends and the Coastal Loop walk-in sites.
Phone
(902) 683-2664
Final Verdict: Thomas Raddall Provincial Park is one of the finest camping destinations on Nova Scotia's South Shore. It delivers the kind of camping experience that families return to year after year: beautiful natural setting, genuinely private campsites, excellent beaches, and a peaceful atmosphere that invites slowing down and settling in. For anyone seeking a classic Nova Scotia coastal camping experience, this park should be at the top of the list.
At a Glance
| Park size | 650 hectares on a wild peninsula at the western edge of the South Shore, near Port Joli |
|---|---|
| 2026 operating season | May 15 to October 12, 2026 |
| Camping | 82 campsites — 68 unserviced wooded sites, 13 walk-in sites (Coastal Loop and Woodland), and 1 group campsite |
| Beaches | Three white-sand beaches with unsupervised saltwater swimming on Port Joli Harbour |
| Trails | 10 hiking trails of 0.5 to 1.5 km plus a multi-use biking trail, through coastal barrens, fens and old-growth hemlock |
| Getting there | About 90 minutes from Halifax via Highway 103, Exit 23, then roughly 15 minutes along Raddall Park Road |
| Nearby | Direct access to the Kejimkujik National Park Seaside adjunct; Liverpool 20 minutes, Lunenburg 30 minutes |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a campsite at Thomas Raddall Provincial Park?
Camping reservations go through the Nova Scotia Camping Portal at novascotia.goingtocamp.com. The park is increasingly popular, so book ahead for July and August weekends and for the Coastal Loop walk-in sites. The single group campsite is reserved through the Milton Natural Resources office, and the park itself can be reached at (902) 683-2664.
When is Thomas Raddall Provincial Park open?
The 2026 operating season runs May 15 to October 12, 2026. Outside that window the campground is closed, though the surrounding South Shore region — Liverpool, Lunenburg and the Kejimkujik Seaside adjunct — is reachable year-round.
Can you swim at Thomas Raddall?
Yes. The park has three white-sand beaches with swimming in the saltwater of Port Joli Harbour, though the beaches are unsupervised. There is a change house and beach access from the day-use area, so you can swim in the morning, hike in the afternoon and fall asleep to the sound of waves.
What hiking and biking trails does the park have?
Ten hiking trails between 0.5 and 1.5 km thread the peninsula, plus a multi-use trail open to biking. They cross pristine barrier beaches and dunes, coastal barrens carpeted in lowbush blueberry, freshwater fens and bogs, and stands of old-growth eastern hemlock that have never been logged. Birders come for piping plovers, seabirds and forest birds.
How far is Thomas Raddall from Halifax?
Roughly 90 minutes by car via Highway 103. Take Exit 23 at Port Joli and follow the signs for about 15 minutes along Raddall Park Road. Liverpool is about 20 minutes away and Lunenburg about 30 minutes, so the park pairs easily with a wider South Shore trip.
Is there accessible camping at Thomas Raddall?
Yes. Accessible campsites (#2 and #4) are available among the unserviced sites, and the restroom includes a shower with an accessible stall. Vault toilets and drinking-water taps are spread throughout the campground, and there is a group shelter for rainy-day activities and a playground.
